Hello, everybody. Jack Frost got cold feet this morning, leaving just a slight frost on the grass in Marlborough and Canterbury. Now the high has timed its run perfectly, as inland areas book most of the sunshine for the holiday weekend. Beach lovers won't be too happy with what's coming up, though. Right now, it's 6 o'clock. Due to the live nature of ONE News we apologise for the lack of captions for some items. This is ONE News, with Greg Boyed and Wendy Petrie. Tonight ` a lasting memory. TEARFULLY: The three of them sitting at a little table, with their banana and their bottle of water, waving goodbye. Heartbreak and sorrow as the parents of NZ triplets killed in Qatar pay tribute to their babies. What the Hekia? more heckling for the Education Minister, and there's more action planned against classroom cutbacks. And extending the warm hand of friendship ` we're live to Samoa ahead of celebrations to mark 50 years of independence. The parents of the NZ triplets killed in a fire in Qatar have paid a heartfelt tribute to their loved ones. Cuddly, sweet, smart and magical ` just some of the words Jane and Martin Weekes used to describe their 2-year-olds. They spoke publicly for the first time about their loss to the Sunday programme's Ian Sinclair. We'll hear from Ian in Doha, Qatar shortly. First, the memories Jane and Martin Weekes will hold on to forever. THIS LATE-EDITED ITEM WILL BE CAPTIONED LIVE. LILLIE WAS THE OLDEST BY ONE MINUTE. SHE WAS VERY CUDDLY AND VERY SWEET, BUT HAD A BITE LIKE A VERY SMALL ROTTWEILER. JACKSON` EVERY MORNING WHEN WE'D MAKE OUR COFFEE, HE'D GO AND GET A SPOON AND COME AND ASK FOR HIS COFFEE. WINKIE WAS VERY SPECIAL. HE WAS BIG AND GENTLE. IT'S A NURSERY PRESCHOOL. ALL THE CHILDREN GOT LITTLE AWARDS FOR VARIOUS THINGS, AND JACKSON GOT THE ONE FOR BEING THE MOST CUDDLY. LILLIE GOT THE ONE FOR THE CHILD WHO MOST OFTEN ACCIDENTALLY BROKE SOMETHING, WHICH I ACTUALLY MAINTAIN WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BOYS GIVING HER THE BLAME. AND WINKIE GOT THE AWARD FOR MOST OFTEN AT THE TEACHER'S SIDE. WHEN I DROPPED THEM OFF IN THE MORNING, THE THREE OF THEM WERE SITTING AT A LITTLE TABLE WITH THEIR BANANA AND THEIR BOTTLE OF WATER WAVING GOODBYE. SIREN WAILS I WAS IN A MEETING AT WORK. JANE GOT THERE FIRST. YOU COULD SEE THE SMOKE, BUT NOBODY KNEW WHAT THE SITUATION WAS INSIDE. THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THE KIDS WERE IN OR IF THE KIDS WERE OUT. I JUST WANTED TO SEE THEM COME OUT OF THE DOOR. THEY BROUGHT LILLIE OUT. YOU COULD SEE HER LITTLE SKIRT AND HER TOP. THEY BROUGHT LILLIE OUT, AND THEY BEGAN WORKING ON LILLIE, AND THEY BEGAN WORKING ON LILLIE, TRYING TO GET HER TO BREATHE. JANE IN THE AMBULANCE. THEY RUSHED HER OFF TO EMERGENCY TO WORK ON HER. WE STILL DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE BOYS WERE. SO I WAITED AND I WAITED AND WAITED. (SOBS) AND IN THE END, THEY STARTED TO PACK UP. AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THE BOYS. THEY SHOWED ME PICTURES OF ALL THE DEAD CHILDREN AND ASKED ME... WHICH WERE OURS. THIS TRAGEDY WAS AN ACCIDENT. WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT ACCIDENTS HAPPEN ALL OVER THE WORLD. THERE IS NO BLAME. WOMAN CHANTS KARANGA MAN CHANTS HAKA THANK YOU TO PEOPLE IN NZ WHO'VE SAID THINGS THAT TOUCHED OUR HEART. THERE'S SO MUCH HAPPINESS FROM THE TWO YEARS. THE MEMORIES AND THE TIME WE SPENT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FROM US. < THANK YOU. That interview with Jane and Martin Weekes was done by Ian Sinclair from TV ONE's Sunday programme. He joins us now live from Doha. Ian, why did the family decide to speak out about their loss? THEY ARE A BRAVE COUPLE FAMILY REPS CONTACTED ME ALTHOUGH PAINFUL, THEY WANT TO TALK TO ME ONE INTERVIEW ONLY WANTED TO ANSWER THE CONCERNS OF PEOPLE AND SAY THANK YOU TO NZERS And they also told you details of the plans to bring their babies home? PLANS TO BRING THEM BACK THIS WEEKEND GOVERNMENT HAS RELEASED BODIES LOCAL AIRLINE QATAR AIRLINES WILL COME BACK A LOCAL SERVICE IN WELLINGTON TO REMEMBER THE CHILDREN Thanks, Sunday correspondent Ian Sinclair. And you can see more of Ian's interview with the Weekes on Sunday at 7.30. There's still fight in the Pike River families yet, despite the majority deciding to accept that a recovery of their men is unlikely. A small group want to continue the battle to get back into the mine, and as Lisa Davies reports, there's still the question of legal action. Since this deadly explosion shattered their lives, the Pike River families have had a fight on their hands. I have trouble accepting that this thing is actually over. Most of the families have finally accepted what they've railed against for so long ` their men may never leave here. Some may want to drop out, and I can't blame them for that. You know, it's been an incredibly arduous journey all the way through this thing, but there will be some who want to continue this fight. I'm one of those. He claims four other families share his view. There's obviously a range of views amongst families. There always has been and there always will be. At a family meeting in Greymouth last night, the consensus was still to accept it's not possible to recover their men because of the dangers involved. They agreed to shift their focus. Ensuring the sanctity of the area that the men lie in, ensuring that's not violated. Ensuring the sanctity of the area that the men lie in, ensuring that's not violated. They'll work with Solid Energy to enter the drift ` that's the mine tunnel leading up to the rockfall. To get whatever evidence there may be in the drift, and if there are men in that drift. Their other focus ` the ongoing police investigation and potential criminal charges being laid. There is still information that is becoming available that may impact on the prosecution position. He says the royal commission findings in September will determine whether families launch a civil suit to ensure there is accountability for the disaster. But for the family of Ben Rockhouse, the focus is the same. We're determined that this fight's not over. He says they won't rest until their son is back with them. Lisa Davies, ONE News. The body of a Czech hitchhiker murdered near Waimate last weekend has been released to her family. Police say it's likely Dasha Pytlickova was sexually assaulted before being killed by local man Jason Frandi in remote bushland. Frandi's body was found close by. Investigators trying to piece together the hours before Pytlickova met Frandi have released pictures of her coat and backpack. Teachers are digging in for a fight over classroom cutbacks. Intermediate schools are now planning to give the Ministry of Education the cold shoulder and refuse to work with official initiatives. Angry teachers confronted the under-fire minister in her Mana electorate today. Political reporter Michael Parkin was there. # Hey, Hekia! Leave our kids alone! # It was a wall of worried teachers that greeted Hekia Parata as she made her way into a post-Budget breakfast in Mana. ALL CHANT: Heck, no, Hekia! Heck, no, Hekia! The Government backdown that will now see schools lose no more than two teachers over the next three years clearly not silencing this group... What the Hekia?! ...as there are no guarantees the two-teacher cap will stay in place after three years. Well, we'll review things as we go along. I think she's just ambitious. She just wants to make her way up the chain, and she's going to be hard-nosed and say, 'Oh yes, I can make changes. I'm not worried about the public.' But we won't stand by and watch. We're going to fight this. We are very focused on the explicit choice we've made to invest in quality teaching practice and professional leadership because that has the biggest effect on raising student achievement. But the criticism keeps mounting. The association representing intermediates met with minister yesterday and says Hekia Parata's underestimated members' anger. She didn't hear that we are actually very unhappy with this. We are so unhappy that, as an association, we are having to look ways of making this unhappiness known, and this is it ` we're going to stop working with the Ministry of Education. The association's now calling for a moratorium on increasing class sizes. But Hekia Parata's digging her heels in on this policy. Michael Parkin, ONE News. Former All Black Stephen Bachop has been convicted of assault following an incident after the Rugby World Cup final. Bachop, who also played for Samoa, admitted dragging his partner by the arm and hair, assaulting a passer-by who tried to intervene and resisting arrest. The judge imposed no penalty on the former first five eighth. You have made a donation of $500 to women's refuge. You have written a letter of apology to the bystander who tried to assist your partner. Bachop was discharged without conviction on a charge of possessing cannabis. He did not comment outside court. The youngest victims of the Carterton balloon tragedy have been awarded posthumous awards at a Massey University graduation ceremony in Wellington. Johannes Jordaan and Alexis Still were honoured by not just their peers but their families too. Daniel Faitaua was there. For more than 300 Massey University students, their day for celebration was tinged with sadness. Johannes Christoffel Jordaan and Alexis Victoria Still had both completed their first year of nursing studies at Massey University in Wellington when they were killed in the Carterton ballooning tragedy. The university awarded posthumous certificates to the young couple. It's more about the pride that I had of Alexis and the way she lived her life. He's done really well, and I'm very proud of him. After a standing ovation by academics, students and their families, the stage belonged to the pair's younger siblings, who collected their certificates in their honour. I didn't really see them very well, because my eyes were full of tears at the time and it was a very emotional... time. At just 19 and 21, the couple were the youngest passengers on board a hot-air balloon that clipped power lines and crashed on a Carterton field. 11 people, including Alexis and Christjan were killed. Preliminary results from the Transport Accident investigation confirm the pilot at the helm, Lance Hopping, had traces of cannabis in his system. We do struggle at times, and other days are good, but as we go on, we probably have more good days, as time moves on. We've got so much support from everybody, and this today is another form of support for us. Their thoughts today on their children's achievements, celebrated today by their peers. Daniel Faitaua, ONE News. Still to come on ONE News ` a rebel deadline for the Syrian government ` could it be the end for an already tattered UN peace plan? His atrocities are described as some of the worst in history ` a massive sentence for Liberia's former leader Charles Taylor. And look no hands ` could this be the future of driving? Then at 7 ` they might be underage, but they know their rights. Just what can your kids get away with without your consent? A plan by one of Australia's largest media companies to outsource jobs to NZ has triggered mass strike action. Around 800 Fairfax employees have walked off the job in protest against the company's attempts to cut costs. Our Australia correspondent Steve Marshall reports. This skit poking fun at Qantas's outsourced Jetconnect operation based in Auckland. And pass the savings on to youse. EWE BLEATS Is no laughing matter for Fairfax News staff, who are striking for 36 hours over management's decision to cut 66 regional jobs and send newspaper production work off-shore to NZ. It's not the question of the quality of journalism that NZers can do, which is fantastic. It's about the relationship about newsrooms and communities, and by sending that across the Tasman, you break the relationship with the community. The online revolution is forcing Australasia's leading media company to find a new business model as its newspaper circulation plummets. We are ready to make change and face the future, but we won't accept changes that actually cut the heart and soul out of the papers. Cheaper wages make NZ an attractive outsourcing destination. Other companies taking advantage in recent months are Heinz, Westpac and Woolworths. This outsourcing report completed last year shows that 13% of the 21 companies surveyed had outsourced their call centre functions to NZ. That's similar to the numbers outsourcing to India. we don't believe this is taking advantage good continuity for both economies Australia's biggest outsourcer is it's national airline, with claims Qantas has been paying NZers 40% less than their Australian counterparts for the past decade. Leading the way for more jobs to take flight across the Tasman. Steve Marshall, ONE News. A ceremony's been held at Parliament to mark the 25th anniversary of the day we became nuclear-free. Politicians, diplomats and members of the nuclear-free movement gathered for the milestone. David Lange's Labour government passed the law to ban nukes after years of strong public opposition to French nuclear testing in the Pacific and visits by American nuclear-powered ships. At the time, NZ's stand cost us our status as an ally of the United States, but won Kiwis friends and much admiration around the world. Rebels have given the Syrian government until Friday evening NZ time to observe a United Nation's ceasefire. If the deadline isn't met, the rebels say they'll no longer be bound by the peace plan. This comes as the UN discovered 13 bodies, some shot in the head, in the east of the country. A warning ` this report by the BBC's James Robbins contains images of bodies. GUNFIRE There's no sign of Kofi Annan's plea for peace in Syria being heeded. Latest pictures show outbreaks of violence in different parts of the country. Today, in eastern Syria, another massacre was uncovered ` 13 corpses. The head of UN monitors say some have been shot from close range. He did not blame any particular group. Kofi Annnan, the UN peace envoy in Jordan today, fears that pitiless killing, increasingly sectarian, could spread through the region. It's a concern widely shared. The worst case, which seems un` unfortunately at the present to be the most probable, and that is that the violence escalates, the conflict spreads and intensifies. It reaches a higher degree of severity. It involves countries in the region. It takes on increasingly sectarian forms, and we have a major, uh, crisis not only in Syria, but in the region. But it's Syria which is facing the bloodiest horrors of the so-called Arab Spring. These pictures apparently show rebels attacking a government position, then catching and beating a government soldier. Today the rebel Free Syrian Army, part of a deeply divided opposition, gave the Assad regime 48 hours to stop fighting or face greater violence. The signs are of increasing polarisation and a determination on all sides to fight on. Sectarian violence has already spread to Lebanon. While Iran's arming the Syrian government, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are supplying Syria's rebels. It's taken eight years, but the jailing of African warlord Charles Taylor is being hailed as a precedent for the international justice system. The former Liberian president's been sentenced to 50 years in a British prison for helping rebels in Sierra Leone's civil war. Taylor used so-called blood diamonds to fund the rebels who killed and mutilated tens of thousands of people. The 64-year-old's the first head of state convicted by an International War Crimes Court since World War II. And a British court's ruled that the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden, where he faces questioning over rape and sexual assault claims from two women who worked as Wikileaks volunteers. He has two weeks to appeal against the ruling. A gunman in Seattle has gone on a killing spree before turning the gun on himself as police closed in. The man entered a cafe and began shooting wildly, killing three people. Parts of the city were then locked down, but the man was able to shoot another women in a parking lot before driving off in an SUV. The gunman later shot himself when police tracked him down near the abandoned vehicle. He's now in a critical condition. And Canadian police have named a porn star as the suspect in the mailing of dismembered body parts. A severed foot was found in a package at the Conservative Party headquarters in Ottawa, while a hand was discovered at a postal warehouse. Police have found a torso in a suitcase but haven't identified the victim. Spanish motorists may have caught a glimpse of the future. when a convoy of driverless vehicles passed them by. The fleet used cameras, radar, laser sensors and wireless communication to mimic a lead truck, accelerating, braking and turning in the same way. It's quite fun to see, uh, the passing vehicles. They're quite surprised, uh, seeing me not driving the car, but, uh, reading a magazine. They will bend back and see. 'Is she actually not driving?' The Swedish manufacturer Volvo was testing the technology and says it could reduce driver error accidents and fatigue, as well as save fuel. Commemorations have already started on the eve of celebrations marking 50 years of independence from NZ. But as the festive activities kick off, there are concerns over immigration issues. Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver is in Samoa and joins us now live via the internet. SAMOA HAS FOUGHT HARD FOR ITS FREEDOM NZ POLICE SHOT DEAD SAMOAN PROTESTERS YEARS AGO NOW IT'S A TREATY OF FREEDOM The hand of friendship is extended. The heads of state for Samoa and NZ symbolise the result of a 50-year relationship. We've had more ups than downs. You know, you can't change your history, and the neat thing about the sentiment here is that they're looking at the past as the past. Samoans started arriving in NZ in the '50s, like Philip and Moana Bernard, who had big dreams. I think it was a good thing looking for opportunities. They remember the day NZ gave Samoa its independence. It was a good day for Samoa, and to where Samoa is at the present moment is largely to NZ's guidance. But while friendship was promised, the relationship has had its ups and downs. Samoans filled jobs Kiwis didn't want, but in the 1970s' dawn raids, Pacific Islanders were targeted by police trying to find overstayers. When I got to the door, it was these two cops that came in. Times have changed, but many Samoans believe NZ's tightening of immigration laws is contrary to the friendship treaty. It should be easier for us to migrate to NZ ` not harder, easier. It should mean open access, freeing up borders. Samoans are the largest Pacific group in NZ, numbering more than 130,000. Many of their people are NZ's gain, and not just on the rugby field. It's also a strong political ally. The prime minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa, is a great friend of NZ. We have worked constructively with him. The Samoan government has asked NZ to accept short-term workers in construction and trade areas. I have raised the question, and I am waiting for a response from the NZ government. A timely question given the country is celebrating its relationship with NZ ` a relationship that's already looking to the future. IT'S NOT ONLY OUR GOVERNOR GENERAL HERE NZ POLICE AND NAVY BAND WILL MARCH NZ AIR FORCE WILL FLY OVER SAMOA Thanks, ONE News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver in Samoa. To the day's weather, how are things looking for the holiday weekend? Yep, fine for most places through the interior. There's a bit of rain coming for the West Coast after all. Still the cold critical sou'wester over us today, so in case you're wondering what Jack Lee does of a morning, pop out to Maraetai. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz Surf's been going off at Mt Maunganui. This guy caught in a close-out, but still holding it together! I'll be back after sport, trying to do the same. Coming up on ONE News ` one of our most famous broadcasters is in hospital waiting for heart surgery. Back to the future for our banks ` with a string of glitches, could it be their ancient technology to blame? And not in tune ` why are our musicians not getting enough air time on commercial radio? They might be underage, but they know their rights. Children aren't just children. They're people. Tonight ` just what can your kids get away with without your consent? You're mature enough to make your own decisions about your body. Plus ` something is stolen in NZ every two minutes. We've got the website that could get it back for you. Close Up at 7, TV ONE. 1 Kiwibank says its systems are back to normal after a glitch left 800,000 customers with delayed payments and no access to internet or phone banking. It's just the latest in a string of recent banking failures which experts say is often due to old technology. Kim Vinnell takes a look. Stephen McPaike reckons there's nothing more frustrating than working hard for his money and not being paid on time. I'm now behind in rent, I'm behind in bills, and I'm struggling to catch up. His wages were delayed by a bank transfer glitch last month. I don't get paid. The money goes out, or tries to go out, it bounces back, saying that there's not enough money in my account, and I get dishonest fees. And he's not alone. Thousands of Kiwis have been put out by bank failures over the past few months. So, what's the problem? You're dealing with, you know, some systems that, over the years have grown up, that weren't designed for the internet, that are now having, you know, to cope with, uh, new technologies. Technology upgrades then would seem to be the answer, although in Kiwibank's case, it was doing just that, which caused its entire system to crash yesterday. The Bank of New Zealand says it's been experiencing problems too. Customers using BNZ Visa cards say after making a transaction, it appears they've been charged more than once. Their problems continued for a week. The reason many banks are upgrading their technology now is to allow them to use a new transaction system introduced here in February. It's replaced a 25-plus year old system. We now have a system that settles, uh, payments around the NZ economy much more frequently throughout the course of a day. That means payments, like wages, are processed as soon as possible, rather than overnight. There's been one or two little teething problems, but, look, in my perspective, I think they've been rectified quickly and effectively. Teething problems Stephen McPaike hopes he won't be put out by again. Kim Vinnell, ONE News. There's finally some relief for motorists in Manawatu as the gorge has had one lane opened late this afternoon. It's been closed since September after major slips blocked the road, forcing drivers to make lengthy detours. Motorists travelling from Woodville to Ashurst will now have restricted access to use the gorge, and the road's expected to be fully operational by the end of September. Veteran broadcaster Paul Holmes is in Auckland Hospital awaiting heart surgery. The 62-year-old host of TV ONE's Q+A show was urgently flown to hospital from his home in Hawke's Bay after having trouble breathing. His condition's stable, and he says he still has his sense of humour. Thousands of children across the country have marked the end of NZ Music Month by having a sing-along at the same time. They sang a tune written by Bruce Taiapa, a Gisborne Boys High school student who won the event's national song writing competition. One of the performances was at Parliament. # I said it was 21 degrees # under the pohutukawa trees. # The event, called Hook, Line and Sing-along is organised by the Music Commission and music teachers and designed to encourage music education. NZ Music Month's about to wind up, and although it's been a time to celebrate Kiwi music, ONE News has found our musicians aren't getting the air-time they've been promised. Commercial radio stations should be playing 20% NZ music, but as political editor Corin Dann reports, that's not happening. # Somebody that you used to know. # The international success of Kiwi acts like Kimbra means, globally, fans are hearing increasing amounts of great Kiwi music. But is that the case when you flick on the radio at home? There's so much music out there now, so it is more competitive trying to get songs played on the radio. It was fear of a compulsory quota under Labour that saw the radio industry commit to a voluntary target of 20% in 2002. And, earlier this year, it renewed that commitment with the Government for another five years. The last couple of years have been slightly under, but the radio industry, the radio stations, strive to get to this figure every year. (SINGS) For young artists like Annah Mac, radio play remains crucial because, for now, it is still the most likely place for Kiwis to find new music. However, industry veterans say the tough economic times mean not as many record deals. The young radio programmers, they're good, but the record companies are shrinking. And so the product that's coming out ` there aren't so many records. The credibility of Kiwi music also took a hit this year when Kiwi FM cut its 100% Kiwi music format to 60% due to poor audience numbers. So is the Government as worried as the last one about the future of Kiwi music on the radio? Well, no. Not really. It is a voluntary code. You're right. And, at the end of the day, if one in` about one in five songs on the commercial radio are Kiwi, that's fantastic. Splitz Enz's Mike Chunn says the explosion of music on the internet now means the battle to be on the radio is becoming less important if you want to be a star. Corin Dann, ONE News. Looking at our top stories tonight. As a special thank you for the outpouring of support they've received, the parents of the triplets killed in a Qatar fire have spoken out. Jane and Martin Weekes reminisced about some of the moments they shared with their babies, and haven't attributed any blame for the accident. Education Minister Hekia Parata is underfire from angry teachers who Are calling for a moratorium on increasing class sizes and protesting against classroom cutbacks. Intermediate schools plan to refuse official initiatives. Andrew's here with sport, and an All Blacks lock contemplates retirement. More on this extremely tough decision next. Also tonight, how's this for trim? Piri Weepu's strange season takes another turn. Plus, another national star withdraws from Olympic qualifying. And have we seen the last of the Williams sisters on the grand slam podium? All Blacks lock Anthony Boric is considering retiring from all rugby. Boric's neck injury hasn't healed after three months rest, so he now has to make a decision whether to have major surgery or stop playing altogether. Anthony Boric has been into some of rugby's dark recesses in his time, but his deepest challenge yet has hit him yet. I suppose you have to kind of down track, 20 years time. What sort of side-effects there will be. 24-Test Boric suffered a disc injury in his neck almost three months ago. Time off hasn't helped, so it's either surgery soon, six months off and a hesitant future or retirement. I just kind of think the spinal cord and it fused... it's all about fusing the two vertebra together. It's just, um, you know, just sounds a bit kind of extreme. The surgery he's considering has been performed on other players like former Auckland hooker Derren Witcombe, who played again, but then retired. In a major procedure, surgeons remove the affected disc and cement the vertebrae back together. I think a contact collision sport like these guys do play means there's a risk every time they do go out on to the field. Quite often you do lead with your head, and it puts your neck in a vulnerable position. I guess if I had the surgery, I'd try and slowly build up that confidence, but would it ever come back? You know, who knows, really. At North Harbour Stadium today the Blues' shocking season could be summed up by looking at players like Keven Mealamu and Jerome Kaino on the sidelines. Now the dilemma for Boric (28) has struck a chord. I know how much he loves rugby, um, but there is a risk in doing that. You know, 20 to 30 years time, what's it going to be like. You know, what's my quality of life is going to be at that stage? Anthony Boric will have to make the tough call in the next few weeks. The strange season continues for the much talked about All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu. A new-look Weepu is likely to make the Test squad when it's named on Sunday, but he's still been benched by the Blues for this weekend. < Some might find it strange that the All Blacks selectors want to see him have game time, < but again he's on the bench. No, I think it's, uh, it's always been about, um, making sure we get the best team to try and win the games. Another loss on Saturday night against the Chiefs means the Blues will have been beaten twice by all the other NZ teams this season. While Jesse Ryder has benched himself from NZ cricket teams, he's expected to still feature at some stage next season. The 27-year-old has walked away from one of the best contracts, believed to be worth up to $150,000, to sort out his personal life. His approach and the way he's trying proactively to sort some of his personal issues has been very impressive. And we've just gotta keep supporting him and helping him through the next three to six months as he builds a foundation in his life, and hopefully one day see him back on the field for NZ. Ryder played the last of his 78 matches for the Blackcaps in February and was then suspended for an off-field incident. He had mixed results in his return during the IPL. The Tall Black basketballers' chances of reaching the Olympics have taken a hit with injury forcing Tom Abercrombie out of the qualifying series in Venezuela in July. The Breakers star still hasn't recovered from that incident against the Crocs nearly two months ago. It feels like it's getting better, but that bend of the knee ` cos it's in that front bit ` so when I'm bending down to my shot, it catches a little bit. And obviously jumping ` can't jump properly with that foot and stuff,... which isn't ideal for basketball. Surgery will sideline him for six to eight weeks, meaning he may also miss the NBA summer trials. Our latest confirmed Olympic rep has literally had to fight hard to gain her selection for London. Auckland judoka Moira de Villiers is aiming for a top-10 spot in London, but that could just be the beginning. Here's Blair Norton. Don't be fooled by the looks ` Moira de Villiers is an animal. I was a tomboy when I started. So, for me, rough and tumble was the thing, you know and, uh, I've always enjoyed it. The 22-year-old who started judo as a 5-year-old in Pretoria before moving to Auckland at 13, booking her spot in London winning last month's Oceania Champs. We've seen many upsets and all that sort of stuff, so you've got to take one fight at a time. But, um, realistically, a top 10 would be great. De Villiers' training partner is also her boyfriend, fellow NZ rep Jason Koster. If we're having a fight off the mat, then it's just, you know, sort it out. And I'm actually very scared of her on the mat. (CHUCKLES) So I'm not going to try and take it there. Koster just missed out on selection, losing his Oceania Champs final after having severe food poisoning. He's now targeting Rio, where he believes De Villiers is a medal chance. It's quite exciting cos she's doing so well as she is. You know, and then we get the strength on top of that, you know, and as well as experience on the mat, then she's going to be an amazing fighter. The pair spent last year at the Olympic Training Centre in Paris, where De Villiers faced three-time world champion Frenchwoman Lucie Decosse. We were lucky enough to go to the, um, their private training sessions, and their training camps, which no other foreigners are allowed to go to. So really got to know them and got to fight her a little bit. De Villiers is heading to Holland next month to further hone her skills against another gold medal favourite, Edith Boshe. Until then, her boyfriend's going to take plenty more punishment. Blair Norton, ONE News. Mixed fortunes for our national hockey teams, who are both at pre-Olympic tournaments overseas. The women's Black Sticks have beaten China for the second time in Beijing, 2-1, while the men's side has suffered its first loss of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup ` 2-1 to great Britain in Malaysia. The British side, ranked fourth in the world ` three places ahead of NZ ` scored both its goals in the first half. CHEERING Andy Hayward scored NZ's only goal just before full time. Despite the loss, the Black Sticks remain top of their pool. Could this be the end of the Williams' sisters grip on women's tennis? World number five Venus has been ousted in the second round of the French Open ` her earliest exit at a grand slam. After Serena's demise yesterday, will either of them win a major trophy again? Toni Street has the story. Venus is the latest Williams sister to wilt on the big stage. Another blow for the Williams family after Serena's early exit on the same court yesterday. But while Serena's opening round exit came after a three-hour epic, Venus was totally outclassed by third seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-3, with 33 unforced errors in under an hour. Advances over the net at the moment. Venus admitted later she's now playing for fun, with no expectations of results as she continues to struggle with the autoimmune disease Sjogren's Syndrome. So was it now a reality that the best days are behind the Williams sisters? Between them, they hold 20 grand slam titles since Serena won her first in 1999. The sisters met each other eight times in major finals. But Serena's last big win was back in 2010 at the Australian Open, and it's been four years since Venus last won a grand slam. The 31-year-old is now focusing firmly on the Olympics, a sign perhaps sentiment rather than serious tennis is the driving force. There's no questioning Roger Federer's intentions, setting a new record of 234 grand slam match wins, surpassing Jimmy Connors' long-standing mark. Federer dropped just one set to Romania's Adrian Ungur and will now play either Martin Klizan or Nicholas Mahut to reach the top 16. Toni Street, ONE News. Professional boxer Shane Cameron is gambling with a new workout in the lead up to his make-or-break fight against American Monte Barrett in July. Cameron has revealed to ONE News he's fitter and faster than before after embracing Crossfit, and he still weighs 98 kilos. I'll be able to start faster too. Start faster. I'm renowned for always starting a bit slow, but with this training, it's, uh... Yeah, start some new things for me. Former world champion Masilino Masoe is warning Joseph Parker not to lose any weight ahead of his pro debut. I told that probably only 1 KG's or 2 to pick up his speed, and I think that is going to do. Parker is on the undercard to Cameron's fight on the 5th of July. The NBA basketball playoffs produced an extra-time cliff-hanger between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. Having blown a 15-point lead, the Celtics had to claw back in the final quarter Garnett comes back. Nearly stolen by Wade. Dooling out to Ray Allen. An open three. It's good. d Tied game. Ray Allen drills the 8 three with 34 seconds remaining LeBron James then unsuccessful with this final second effort. Dwayne Wade and the Heat, though, turned it on in extra time to close out the match 115-111. The Heat lead the series 2-0. Thanks, Andrew. After the break ` Jim has a mostly fine weather outlook for the long weekend, with just a few strings attached. Tonight on Close Up ` what Kiwi teens have to say about their rights. You're mature enough to make your own decisions about your body. And what can they legally get away with without you? Plus, Mila is an elephant on death row unless someone has pockets deep enough to save her. And if you've ever been burgled, then we've got the website for you. Close Up's here next, TV ONE. Hi again. The sunmaker high's about to make its move. So fine in the early stages of the long weekend. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz And that's ONE News this Thursday.